Teenager held over school air gun shooting

A teenager has been arrested after a schoolgirl was shot in the face yesterday with an air weapon during breaktime.

Bonnee O'Connor, 13, was fired at as she chatted to friends on a playing field at Beaumont Leys school, in Leicester, yesterday.

She was due to have an operation today to remove a ball bearing from her cheek.

A Leicestershire constabulary spokeswoman said: "We received a report at 11.13am yesterday informing us that a teenage girl had been shot in the face and lower leg with what is believed to be an air weapon.

"The incident took place within the grounds of the school, but not inside the premises. The girl was taken to the Leicester royal infirmary and is currently undergoing treatment. Her injuries are not life-threatening.

"A 15-year-old youth has been arrested in connection with the incident and he remains in police custody."

The victim spoke to the Leicester Mercury newspaper before her operation.

She said: "I'm angry that this happened because there is no reason for it. I was just chatting to my friends, minding my own business.

"All I heard was these loud bangs and the next thing I knew I felt this stinging pain in my cheek. I turned away and held my face and heard more bangs.

"Then my mates started screaming that there was blood over my face and it started pouring all over my top.

"I heard a few more bangs and I got hit in the leg. There were a group of people standing a distance away and that's where the noise seemed to be coming from."

Teachers at the school rushed to call an ambulance.

A spokeswoman for the school said: "We can confirm that a student was shot with what appears to be an air gun in the school grounds. Staff were on the scene immediately and dealt with the situation extremely well.

"Because of the police investigation, it's difficult for us to give any more details at this time. We are satisfied that our security procedures are as robust as they can be, but we will of course be looking at whether there is anything more we can do."

A spokesman for the local education authority said it would look "to see if there is anything more that can be done that will help us to improve the security of all our schools".